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Elaborate Thai-US sex trafficking ring dismantled

US and international agencies have taken down ringleaders of a scheme that forced Thai women to live as sex slaves in American cities. The scheme reportedly operated by luring women from impoverished backgrounds.

US authorities revealed on Wednesday that 17 individuals had been indicted for running a "sophisticated, widespread" sex trafficking ring that saw hundreds of women from Thailand transported to the United States.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the assistance of several other agencies, was able to dismantle the network that saw women being "forced…to live a nightmare."

According to press releases from the ICE and Department of Justice, twelve of the defendants are from Thailand and five are US citizens. Eleven of them were arrested in various locations across the US, while the alleged head of the ring, 55-year-old Sumalee Intarathong, was already detained where he was living in Belgium. One suspect remains at large.

"Human trafficking is a degrading crime that undermines our nation's most basic promises of liberty and security," Attorney General Loretta Lynch was quoted by ICE as saying.

An enormous scale of exploitation

According to ICE, the scheme operated by luring women from impoverished backgrounds with promises of a better life in the United States. They are then told they have incurred a debt of between $40,000 and $60,000 for transport and upkeep, which they will have to work off. Furthermore, they are encouraged to undergo breast implant surgery before leaving Thailand.

"They promised women in Thailand a chance at the American dream, but instead exploited them, coerced them and forced them to live a nightmare. In short, the victims lived like modern-day sex slaves," said US Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger.

The Department of Justice wrote in their statement that the hundreds of victims were often forced to work all day, every day, and were not allowed to keep any of the money they earned "except for the occasional tip offered by a sex buyer."

Sex trafficking has become a rampant problem in recent years. According to Luger, Wednesday's indictment was the ninth such case since 2014, but the first to take down an entire organization in one go.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has reported that 79% of all human trafficking globally is for sexual exploitation, and the victims are overwhelmingly girls and women.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Fleeing poverty

Our investigation began in Benin City, capital of Edo State. Almost everyone we spoke to has at least a friend or a family member in Europe. More than three-quarters of illegal prostitutes in Italy are from this region. Due to high unemployment among the youths in Edo state, many young women see fewer prospects here. They seek for a better life in Europe instead, not fully aware of the dangers.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

False promises

Catholic Sister, Bibiana Emenaha, has tried for years to warn young Nigerian women before they ended up in Europe. "Many are lured with false promises," she told us. The traffickers promise jobs such as babysitting or hair dressing, but that quickly turn out to be a lie. Once the young women are in Europe, they end up on the streets.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

"The people are greedy"

After long negotiations, a trafficker agreed to an interview with us. He called himself Steve and claimed he has already transported more than 100 Nigerians all the way to Libya. He wouldn’t speak about the people behind his business. He said he was simply a service provider. "The people here in Edo State are greedy. They are willing to do anything for a better life," Steve said.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Dangerous Sahara journey

For 600 euros ($666) per person, Steve organizes the journey from Nigeria to Libya. "Most people know how dangerous the journey is through the Sahara," the human smuggler told us. Many people die very often along the way. "That is the risk," Steve said, who brings the migrants personally to Agadez in Niger. A colleague then takes over from there.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Agadez: A hub for human traffickers

The desert town of Agadez was the most dangerous part of our research trip. The town thrives on human and drug trafficking and foreigners are often kidnapped for ransom. We could only move around with armed guards and had to wear traditional head cover to be less visible.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Solving the migration crisis

Like many others in the desert town, Omar Ibrahim Omar, the Sultan of Agadez, sees human trafficking as a problem that cannot be solved in Agadez. He is asking for more money from the international community. His argument: If Europe does not want more migrants to keep coming through the Mediterranean Sea, Europe should give more support to Niger.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

The "Monday Caravan" to Libya

For months now, several trucks with migrants from Agadez set out every Monday shortly before sunset towards the north. The crisis in Libya has contributed to human traffickers being able to reach the Mediterranean Sea without the usual controls. And we soon learned that the authorities here in Niger have little interests in their activities.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

"The girls are getting younger"

Many of the migrants from Nigeria land on the streets in Italy. Social worker Lisa Bertini works with foreign prostitutes. "They are coming more and more," she told us. According to official figures, about 1,000 Nigerians went to Italy across the Mediterranean in 2014. In 2015, the figure climbed to 4,000. "And the girls are getting younger," the social worker said.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Looking for a "Madam"

With help from a Nigerian colleague, we discovered an alleged "Madam" in northern Italy. A Nigerian host in Italy is referred to as "Madam," she is at the top of a smaller trafficking network. The madam we found lived in a suburb of Florence and one victim made serious accusations against the her: "She has been beating us and forced us into prostitution," the victim said.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

'Madam' and her girls

As we confronted the supposed "Madam" about the accusations, she admited accommodating six young Nigerian women in her house, but denied forcing them into prostitution: "It's just something young Nigerians here do." After our interview, we handed our research to the Italian public prosecutor's office.

Tracking Nigeria's human traffickers

Cheap sexual satisfaction

Sister Monika Uchikwe has long been criticizing the inactiveness of the Italian authorities. For eight years, she has cared for victims of human trafficking. She explained in rage as we asked about the customers. The men always want cheap satisfaction – sex with a Nigerian woman on the streets costs only 10 euro. "Without this possibility, this problem would not exist," she said.